Making layers visible

Visible layers are rendered on the map when the map scale is within a layer's visibility cutoffs. Even if inspectability, which enables you to work with a layer's objects, is cleared the layer is still rendered on the map. However, if visibility is cleared, inspectability is also cleared.

Check boxes appear at both the individual layer and the layer group levels in the Layer Legend. Enable or disable visibility for an individual layer using that layer's check box, or do it for all the layers beneath a group layer by selecting or clearing the check box for that group layer.

Following are the various states of visibility:

	At the individual layer level, signifies a layer is visible. At the layer group level, signifies all of the layers within a layer group are visible.
	At the individual layer level, signifies a layer isn't visible. At the layer group level, signifies all of the layers within a layer group aren't visible.
	Only appears at the layer group level and signifies that some, but not all of the layers within a layer group are visible.

Just because a layer is selected , it doesn't mean that layer is automatically visible on the map. The map must also be zoomed to a scale at which the layer is set to appear. For example, if the Wells layer is set to appear at a zoom scale of 1:250,000, even though its visibility checkbox may be selected, it won't appear on the map if your zoom scale is greater than 1:250,000.

Items also won't be visible on the map unless a symbol, pattern, or fill is defined for those items. For example, you may need to select the well layer in the Layer Legend and then click Layer > Symbolize to define a well head symbol before wells appear on the map. You can determine how the item will be rendered by viewing the symbol, pattern, or fill adjacent to the layer name in the Symbolize column in the Layer Legend.

When you select the visibility check box, a layer also becomes inspectable. When you clear the visibility check box, inspectability is also disabled.

The map refreshes more quickly with fewer layers displayed.

To change whether a layer is visible on the map

Do one of the following:

Select the check box next to a layer or a sub-layer name to make it visible on the map, and then click Apply.

Clear the check box next to a layer or a sub-layer name to disable visibility, and then click Apply.

You must make a layer inspectable in order to select its objects or display them in Output windows.